Midtown Marauders

(10 years after graduation day)

Spider-Man is swinging through new York on a Friday evening. "Hey there, just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man on his Daily patrol! Man It's been a while since I've seen you guys!" Spider-Man is swinging and then all of a sudden he hears alarms go off. "Huh?"

He sees a nearby closed jewelry store being robbed. "Seems simple, just a typical robbery."

He jumps down and leans on a nearby table waiting for the robbers to notice him. They don't because they're too busy stealing everything.

"This has gone on for a while." Spider-Man tells the camera. "Enough of this." He webs a guy up and the rest of the robbers finally take notice. They turn around and they're all wearing weird demon masks. "Hey you guys going to a costume party? But I thought Halloween wasn't until next month?"

"Get him!" One of the guys yell. They're all shooting him

"Come on guys you of all people should know I'm way to fast for you to hit me!" He dodges most of the bullets and then they stop to reload. "This is so sad for you guys- *oof" he gets hit in the arm by a bullet from behind. "OW! Ugh!" He turns around to see the guy he webbed up earlier out. "You shot me!"

"He he. I thought you said you were to fast! Must be getting rusty Spider-man." The guy said.

"Nah, just a little surprised." He webbed his arm and then webbed the weapon out of the guys hand. Next webbing him up extra. Then his Spidey sense went off, alarming him of the other robbers. "I totally forgot about you guys!" He thought 'why didn't my spider sense go off for the first guy? Maybe he was right, maybe I am getting rusty.'

"He's too fast!"

"I can't get him."

Spider-Man webs the guns out of all their hands leaving them all weaponless. "Oo whatcha gonna do now, huh? Huh?" Spidey chuckles.

"Use your swords!" One of the guys says. They all get katanas out of their backs.

"You know you're really starting to make me think you really are going to a costume party. Are you guys ninjas?" Spidey flips off the wall and dodges the slices he gets from the robbers. "Besides, what would young fellas like you want with jewelry anyway? I mean not to be sexist but aren't you all manly men?" That quip must've struck a nerve with the robbers. They started attacking Spidey at all sides. "Geez I'm sorry! I didn't know you guys like jewelry, I don't have a problem with that." They swing each sword and Spidey manages to knock some out of their hands. He webbed up so far 3 of the 5 guys.

"Stop moving web for brains!" The leader yells. "Your all weak, he's just one guy!" He yells at his webbed up teammates. He swings his katana again. Very determined. "I can't go going back empty handed! We have to succeed for the Boss!"

"Boss? You have a boss? So your not going to a costume party?" Just then both guys swing all four katanas at once. Spidey barely dodges them getting a few little scrapes. And punches from the katana. Definitely getting bruises. "Ouch! Great, now I have to sew up this suit! It's not easy to do ya know!" He grabs the 2nd guy's 2 katanas and breaks them against the wall. Then he webs him up just leaving the leader and his 2 katanas. "Give it a break man, I took down all your buddies. It's over."

"Gah!" He runs toward Spidey, and Spidey dodges the slices with ease. "Stop moving!"

"No, you stop moving!" Spider-Man leg sweeps the leader, and takes his katanas away and webs him to the floor. The. He webs off the guy's mask. He was a young man in his early 20's. He had a nasty scar on his left eye. "Now who is your boss and why can't you go back empty handed."

"Why should I talk to you! Because of you were all dead!" He shouts in fear. He has tears in his eyes.

"What do you mean?" Spidey asks.

"This is a job, to prove ourselves. We failed. He's gonna kill us." He's crying now. And spidey notices the other robbers are also shaking.

"Tell me who he is. Maybe I can help you." Spider-Man says softly.

"No, no he's- he- AHHH!" Suddenly Spider-Man hears a pop and the leader's eyes drip red and he goes still. He hears more pops and the other robbers go limp in the webbing. Spider-Man feels sick.

"Hey! Hey, talk to me! No." He feels for a pulse and nothing. Their brains were blown. Maybe he should've let them go. Whoever their boss is, is hardcore. Spider-Man had never went against someone who actually managed to kill someone in front of him. He felt guilty. Spider-Man heard sirens. He had to get out of there, he would definitely be blamed on the Daily bugle.

"What just happened?" Spider-Man said allowed. He swung to his apartment. Done for the night. He changed into his civilian clothes and walked up the stairs to his apartment door. Hoping no one saw him because they would see how beat up he was. When he got home he realized how much pain he had been in. He felt extremely guilty. For everything. He thought it was a simple robbery. He opened the door and walked in. Not noticing that the lights were on. He made his way to the kitchen grabbing some leftovers from the fridge. He placed them on the counter and grabbed a chair and began eating cold spaghetti.

"Boy was I hungry." He started feeling the blood from his bullet wound and ignored it. He would patch it up later. He finally took in his surroundings and noticed three figure in his house.

"Ahhhhh! What the fudge!" He threw his spaghetti on the ground and fell down. Then he flipped back up holding his fork as a weapon standing in a defensive stance."Do not move! I know how to use this!"

"Relax Peter, it's us!" Said one of the figures.

He focused his blurry tired eyes and saw his friends. "Harry?" He stood up straight and put down the fork on the counter. He looked again. "Flash? Mj?" what are you guys doing here? Mj, I thought I gave you a key for emergencies only?"

"Geez tiger, not even a hello?" Said Mj.

"We came to catch up, y'know. We haven't talked in a while" said Flash.

"Well it's still not an excuse for barging into my place. But I gotta say it is good to see you guys." Then they all hugged.

"Good to see you too bud." Harry squeezed Peter's shoulder lightly. Then pain bursts through Peter's shoulder and he suddenly remembers that he got shot.

"Ouch!" He backed away and clung to his shoulder.

"What did I do!" Said Harry.

"You alright tiger?" Said Mj.

"I'm fine, just got shot while out on patrol. I was gonna patch it up but I was so hungry I forgot." Explained Peter.

"Wait back up. YOU GOT SHOT!" Said Flash.

"Yeah, no biggie." Peter replied back calmly, walking to his fallen spaghetti. But was interrupted by Harry.

"Dude, sit down." Harry grabbed his non-injured shoulder while Flash ushered him to the couch. Then Mj went into the restroom to look for a med kit.

"Let's see it." Said Flash.

"Uh...ok. I could handle this myself guys. Really." Peter tried to protest. He took off his coat and started taking off his shirt.

"Found it." Said Mj and she brought the med kit.

"Dude what happened?" Said Harry.

"You know a robbery. And guns, and swords." He said still trying to take off his shirt as Flash helped him.

"Swords!? Do you get cut anywhere Pete?" Said Mj as she took a look at his chest. Filled with bruises. "Well don't answer because I can tell now." She immediately got to work. She put disinfectant on his cuts and patches them up. Harry helped by putting a cloth on his bullet wound to stop the bleeding.

"I really appreciate this guys, but I have been taking care of my own wounds for years. This would've been a piece of cake." He winced because Mj was stitching up some cuts.

"Sorry, but we're here to help you." Said Mj.

"What else happened? And why was there swords involved?" Asked Flash.

"I don't really want to talk about it, I don't wanna be over dramatic but it definitely wasn't your normal robbery." Peter said with a forced chuckle.

"What really happened Pete?" Harry said, noticing Peter's hesitance.

"Nothing, I mean people did die. And I feel kinda guilty but other than that nothing happened."

"People died? Are you ok man?" Asked Flash.

"*sigh... yeah....no" he said no quietly hoping no one heard. His friend put a reassuring hand on his non injured shoulder.

"There, all patched up. Wanna talk about it tiger?" asked MJ.

"Not really, I'm just tired. Anyway, forget about that. What are you guys even doing here anyway?" Peter asked while slouching on the couch. Harry helped him out his shirt back on.

"We told you. To catch up. We texted you last week and you said ok." Flash said he got his phone out and showed the text. "See?"

"Oh, OH. Oh man, I totally forgot guys. I had this whole thing planned, we were gonna watch a movie and then eat at the pizza place we always used to go to after missions. I'm so sorry. I've been so busy. I got a job, and the Spider-Man thing. I'm so sorry." Peter said in a sad tone. Feeling worse than he just did.

"It's ok!"

"Yeah tiger it's totally fine."

"Not even a problem, I mean we could still watch a movie. And order some pizza!" Said Flash.

"I guess you're right. But it's not the same. I'm sorry I forgot guys."

"Hey man, we're adults! We're gonna be busy! I know I was busy! I almost forgot too!" Said Harry.

"Just rest Peter, I'll order pizza." Said Mj.

"And I'll get some blankets, Um where are they?" Asked Flash.

"In the hall closet." Peter replied.

"And I'll find a movie, you just stay there." Said Harry.

"Thanks guys."

LINE BREAK

All three of them are sitting on the couch eating pizza and talking, while the tv is on.

"So besides what has been happening and what you told us, how's life peter." Asked Mj.

"Life is, well it's how you expect. Bills, crime, and work. It hasn't been the same without all my friends. This apartment is all I could afford."

"Why didn't you just stay at your aunts?" Asked Flash.

"Well I can't stay there forever. And I don't like her worrying about me. Plus it's less dangerous for her since I don't live there anymore." Peter replied back.

"Yeah I feel you about not wanting to live at home anymore. I mean, my dad is always on my case. Telling me to get a job to love out and get my one apartment. So that's what I'm gonna do, or what I've been trying to do. It's not easy." Said Harry.

"I know I mean sheild doesn't pay me much, so I can't get my own place. And living at the triskelion has been rough. There's no privacy, all the kids prank me in my dorm, and a bunch of my coworkers make fun of me for still living at "home '' '' added Flash.

"Guess life is tough for the midtown high boys." Peter joked. "What about you Mj?"

"Well I don't wanna sound mean, but life's great! I got a good job at the bugle, I got a great apartment! It's so cheap and it's really pretty. My neighbors are so nice and we have a book club every Friday." Said Mj enthusiastically.

"Well we're glad you're happy Mj." Peter said.

They continued to talk, until Flash suddenly got an idea.

"Dudes I just got the best idea ever!" They all paid attention to Flash. "Wait Mj, how much is the rent for your apartment?"

"About 800 a month, why?" Replied Mj.

"What if me, Harry, and Peter got an apartment together?" Said Flash very happily.

"What?" Said Harry and Peter at the same time.

"Yeah! I mean Harry is saying he doesn't wanna live at home anymore, and Peter you're saying rent for this dinky apartment is hard. So I thought why not us three get an apartment together and pay rent together. We could live near MJ and hang out like this every other night. Then we could superhero together! The midtown Marauders back in action! It would be so much fun!" Flash said. "What do you guys say.."

"Uhhh" said Peter .

"I think it's a good idea." Said Harry.

"Really?" Asked Flash.

"Yeah totally, I've been wanting a place, and Peter! We could help with rent. And I would be willing to be Patrioteer again. And make sure you don't get shot again." Said Harry.

"Well it's an ok idea, but I can handle my rent. And I can handle my injuries. I don't really need....a...team." Peter forced out.

"I honestly like the idea. I mean it would be nice to have some friends nearby." Said Mj.

"What do you mean, I thought you made friends at the book club?" Said Harry.

Mk realizes what she says. Shesits there thinking, and then she sighs deciding on something in her head. "No...I lied...they don't invite me." She said looking upset. Her friends suddenly felt bad. "They don't like me...they make fun of my hair." She forces out a laugh. "Isn't that ridiculous?" Harry puts a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

"I'll do it." Says Peter breaking the tension.

"Me too." Said Harry.

"Noice!" Replied Flash.

"Woah you guys don't have to move in for me." Said Mj.

"Yeah, well as soon as we move in I'm gonna have to meet your friends and have a nice long chat with them." Said Peter.

"Don't be ridiculous Peter." Said Mj jokingly. "Let's just look at apartments right now." She got out her laptop and set it on the coffee table in front of the four of them. "Here are the apartments I live in, but they only have 2 bedrooms or one."

"Darn. I'd be willing to share?" Said Harry.

"Wait before you get all upset there is a bigger building next to mine." She types in the name of the apartment complex."here, it's right next to my building and has bigger apartments. Let's see...with three to four bedrooms!" She shows them.

"How much for rent though?" Asked Peter.

"Oh...eek. Um...1200 a month." Said Mj. Peter felt sick. That was a lot of money. "But if you split it between yourselves it would be 400 each."

"Guys. I think we could do this. What do ya say?" Said Flash.

"I mean it's less than what I pay for this apartment. So I guess ya. I'm in" said Peter.

"I'm 100% in! I could afford that." Said Harry.

"Oh man guys this is gonna be awesome!" Said Flash with a fist in the air, dropping his pizza in the process. "shoot."